Lamentations 4-5 Jeremiah takes us on a whirlwind tour of the destruction of Jerusalem, and we “walk” with him through the ruins of what was once a beautiful city. Not too long ago, as we walked through Ephesus, it was like seeing what might have been, and it was so in Jerusalem. The beauty and grandeur are gone, only rubble and broken homes and the temple as well. How quickly life changes, and then we must stop and consider why God has allowed this. Today we hear over and over, why does God allow all of this evil to occur? It is so that we will stop and consider: He has spoken, He has done this to humble us.

As Jeremiah closes his lament, he reminds us that the Lord has spoken and sovereignly has brought this about to humble his people.

As I look at our own nation, I see how God is divinely bringing about the curses because of our disobedience. Like Israel of old, we have been blessed, but we have turned a blind eye to Him who has provided those blessings. Turn us back, Lord! Open our eyes to see and our hearts to yearn for you. Jeremiah closes with these words:

Restore us to You, O LORD, that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old, [Lam 5:21]